Dental operating lamp



June 19, 1934. I PlEPER 1,963,278

DENTAL OPERATING LAMP Filed Nov. 30, 1952 s Sheet s-Sheet 1 721'; ATTORNEY June 19, 1934. A. F. PIEPER DENTAL OPERATING LAMP Filed Nov. 30. 19:52

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 "42:5 ATTORNEY June 19, 1934. A, F, PIEPER 1,963,278

DENTAL OPERATING LAMP Filed Nov. 30, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEINI'OR @Zwnse WHW Z115 ATTORNEY Patented June 19, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application November 1932, Serial No. 645,079

9 Claims. (0]. 24041.15)

The present invention relates to light projecting apparatus such, for example, as that employed in the performance of dental work and has for its object to provide improvements in apparatus of this class whereby to increase its efliciency and serviceability as well as to render it convenient to operate and economical to manufacture.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved operating lamp capable of adjustment to various operating positions and designed for the illumination of different parts or objects to be inspected or operated upon and being par- *ticularlyusefulinthe practice of dentistry where it is desired to provide effective illumination of the oral cavity during treatment of the teeth or in the performance of surgical operatibiisr A further object of theinvention is to provide a dental lamp embodying a simplified, eflicient and unitary construction providing for the complete enclosure of the electrical connections and designed to facilitate the .circulation of air through the lamp to effectively cool the parts which become heated during operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide in combination with a light projecting operating lamp for use in the performance of dental, surgical and other kinds of work, a combined eye shield the lamp and adapted to support difierent objects or articles for illumination by the lamp, such for example as a data sheet, or a'film or translucent element containing an image of the part to be treated or operated upon in order that it may be readily inspected or viewed by the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved shield or.visor which can be readily applied to or detached from the lamp when de-' sired and which can be adjusted to various service positions in advance of the lamp to protect the patient from the glare of the light.

.ease of operation, maximum adjustability, and

the poising or balancing ofthe lamp at whatever position it may be desired to operate the same.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in of the invention;

-Fig. 2 is a fragmentary part sectional elevation of the counterbalanced supporting means for the lamp and associated parts;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary part sectional view ill trating the universal joint by which the counterbalancing mechanism is supported;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation through the ball and socket joint for connecting the lamp with the counterbalancing mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a view showing the lamp and the-eye shield or visor attached thereto;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through the lamp and visor shown in Fig. 5, drawn to an enlarged scale; 1

' Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the visor and its supporting ring;

Fig. 8 is an end elevation ofthe same;

elevation embodying one form Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic arrangement of the lamp circuit and the switch for controlling the same;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the lamp with the visor removed;

Fig. 11 is a front end elevation of the same drawn to a somewhat enlarged scale; and

Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional elevation through the lamp and the resistance surrounding the lamp socket.

The same reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

Referring to the drawings, the lamp is indicated generally at 10 and is supported for universal movement upon the counterbalanced mechanism indicated generally at 11 which in turn is mounted for universal movement upon a bracket 12 carried by a suitable support 12a as shown in Fig. l, and more fully described hereinafter.

The lamp casing is formed of inner and outer sections 13 and 14, respectively, each of which comprises a one piece construction whereby the usual method of joining several parts together to complete one or moresections in lamps of this type, is avoided. The inner section terminates short of the ends of the outer section and is supported throughout its length in spaced relation to the outer section to afford an air circulating passage 15 between the sections, the outer section being open at all times to permit of the passage of the air around'the inner section. Circulation "of the air through the outer section is provided for by the openings l6 and 17 in the front and rear ends of the outer section, as shown in Figs. 10 and 12. By, circulating the air through the passage 15 and the openings 16 and 1'7, both sections and'the several parts therein, including the lamp socket and the resistance, are prevented from becoming heated to any appreciable degree.

The inner section of the lamp is supported by means of a plurality of transversely extending spacing members 18 suitably connected with the sections, as by means of the screws 19. The in-- her section has a parabolic reflecting face 20 for directing the light rays of. the lamp 21 outwardly through the ends of the sections, thelamp being screwed into a socket 22 disposed in the rear portion of the outer section 14. The socket is supported preferably bya' yoke or bracket 23 having an annular portion 24 thereon provided with athreaded extension 25 projecting through the rear end of the outer casing 14. A nut 26 is screwed into position upon the extension 25 to clamp the yoke in position. A handle 27 is also screwed upon the extension ior adjusting the lamp to difierent positions, the lamp being mounted for universal movement upon the counterbalancing means in a manner described hereinafter.

The front end of the inner section of the lamp casing is provided with an enlarged annular portion 28 having a shoulder 29 at its base, on which is seated a light diffusing and color modifying element at which may beoi glass or other light transmitting material tinted or colored, preferably to simulate daylight. In front of the element 30 is a light controlling or projecting lens 31 of any suitable type which is held in position by a split ring 32 formed of spring material and detachably secured within the groove of a headlike portion 33 formed on the annular portion 28 of the lamp casing *l3.\hs

. Means has been provided within tlielamp'cas-= ing, in conjunction with the lamp circuit, for varying the intensity of the light as may be required from time to time. This means comprises a resistance element 34 extended about a tubular support 35 surrounding the lamp socket, as shown in Fig. 12. The tubular member is supported by a closure 36 at its outer end, between which and the end wall of the lamp casing is a spacing element 37 of insulating material. A layer of insulating material 39 is also interposed between the tubular support 35 and the resistance 34, and the latter is protected and held in position by a covering 40 of insulating or other suitable material.

A two-way switch for controlling the lamp circuit is indicated generally at 41 and is supported within the outer section of the casing upon the wall thereof. The-switch comprises a movable contact 42 having an operating portion 43, the movable contact having two closing positions in which it engages one or the other of two sets of fixed contacts 44 and 45. The ofl. position of the movable contact is indicated by dotted lines in Fig- 9. However, any other suitable or preferred type of two-way switch may be substituted for the one shown.

The circuit wires or connections shown in Fig. 9' are carried through the lamp supporting members as described hereinafter and are extended within the lamp casing and connected with the lamp socket, the switch andthe resistance all of which parts are housed within the casing. v

In a diagram of the circuit shown in Fig. 9 the movable contact is indicated at the position to which it is shifted to efiect dimming of the light, in which position the current will flow through wire 46, lamp 21, resistance 34, switch contacts 44 and 42 and wires 47 and 48. Inthe other closing position of the switch, the current will flow through wire 46, lamp 21, wire 49, switch contacts may be a considerable difierence in the density of the data sheets or other objects to be considered.

The means for protecting the patient from the glare oi the light when under treatment comprises a shield or visor having a main or body portion 51 provided with angularly disposed end portions or wings 52, as best shown in Fig. 6. The visor is provided at its inner edge with spaced bearing portions 53 for receiving a pivot member 54 carried by the bearings 55 of a bracket 56 rigidly connected with the central portion of a split ring 57 formed of resilient or spring-like material. The shield or visor may be swung to various angular positions upon the ring in all of which it is held by a spring-like tongue 58 on the bracket through frictional engagement of the tongue with the pivot member 54. The split ring 57 is mounted within a channel shaped hearing or guideway 14a formed on the front end of the outer section 14 of the lamp casing as shown in Figs. 6 and 12, thus permitting the ring and the shield thereon to be rotated upon the casing around the longitudinal axis of the lamp whereby to adjust the shield to difierent service positions on the casing, dependingupon the position at which the lamp is to be operated.

Means is provided upon the shield for supporting the data sheetsorother image bearing'oojeots at a suitable point in front of the lens 31 for illumination by the light transmitted thereby. This means preferably comprises a pair of spring clips 59 adapted to receive the sheets 60 as indicated in Fig. 6. The clips are provided with rearwardly extending portions 61 seated upon and connected with the wings 52 of the eye shield, preferably by means of the screws 62. The wings are designed to extend into the end of the lamp casing and are curved to conform substantially to the curvature of the enlarged annular portion 14a of the casing whereby light is prevented from escaping past the ends of the shield when it is in the position shown by full lines in Fig. 6. The

. dotted line position of the shield indicated in this figure is that to which itis adjusted when the film or data sheet is attached thereto as an aid to the dentist or surgeon in determining the condition and the particular location of the part to be treated or operated upon. It will be understood that the data sheet can be supported in position to be illuminated by the lamp rays at the same time that the lamp is being ,used to project the light into the mouth of thepatient, or to illuminate other parts requiring treatment, it being understood that the nature of the object to be illuminated and the purpose of displaying the same may vary from time to time depending upon the character of the work under consideration.

One advantage of providing means for varying the intensity of the'light is to accommodate it to objects or data sheets, the images on which may vary in clearness or distinctiveness to a considerable degree. In this connection it will be understood that where the data sheets 60 or other translucent elements are relatively dense and the images thereon more or less obscure the movable contact of the switch will be shifted to the closing position in which the resistance is cut out, whereby a relatively bright light will be afl'orded by which to view the sheets. On the other band if a sheet or other object is to be used on which the image is relatively clear or distinct, better results may be obtained by dimming the light and in such cases the switch will be moved to the position in which the resistance will be included in the circuit. However, it will be understood that the intensity of the light may be varied from time to time as required by the nature of the work regardless of whether or not the character of the latter makes it necessary or desirable to use the data sheets or other image bearing objects. I I

A ball and socket joint is provided between the lamp casing 14- and the supporting means therefor, which in the present illustration comprises the counterbalanced supporting mechanism indicated generally at 11, in Figs. 1 and 2. The ball and socket joint comprises a tubular socket member 63 secured upon the wall of the casing by a clamping ring 64 engaging theinner face of the casing and threaded within the socket member to clamp it upon the outer wall of the casing. The outer end of the socket member is shaped to receive the ball-like portion 65 of a tubular member 66 for supporting the lamp, which in turn may be supported by any suitable means but which is preferably connected with and supported by the counterbalanced mechanism as described hereinafter. I

A member 68 is positioned within the tubular member 63 to complete the socket portion of the joint and is urged into engagement with the ballshaped member 65 by a spring 69, the inner end of which engages a retaining member 70 threaded within the ring 64 as shown in Fig. 4. The socket member 68 is prevented from turning by a screw 71 threaded within the wall of the member 63 and having its inner end reduced and projected within a slot 72 formed in the socket member 68' whereby the latter is free to move longitudinally within the tubular member 63. The ball-shaped member 65 is provided with an annular groove 73 into which projects the reduced end of a screw 74 threaded within the wall of the socket member 63 for cooperation with a pin 75 secured within the groove to limit the extent of rotation of the lamp around the axis of the supporting member 66 whereby to prevent undue twisting of the circuit connections extending through the ball and socket joint into the lamp casing as shown in Fig. 4.

The counterbalanced mechanism for supporting the lamp in various operating positions com- I prises a tubular arm 76 from which extends the lamp support 66. The inner end of the. arm is provided with a flattened portion 77 extended between the outer ends of a pair of twisted links' the fiattenedportion 12b of the support 12 as shown in Fig. 1.

The opposite ends of the links are connected one with another by the members 80 and 81,

the latter being threaded into the former as shown in Fig. 3. A sleeve 83 is positioned upon the screw 81 to protect the circuit wires or conductors carried through the links which are preferably looped around' the sleeve as shown in Fig.

3. Thearm 76. and the support 12 are thus connected together in. a manner to permit of universal movement of the arm and the lamp carried thereby. The vertical portion of the support 12 is sleeved within the bracket 12a which is adapted to-be clamped upon 'a suitable support, not shown, the bracket being of tubular construction to accommodate the circuit connections which are carried upwardly there through and through the support 12, the links 78, ,the arm 76 and the socket member 63 into the} lamp casing where they are connected with the lamp, the switch. and resistance as showndiagrammatically in Fig. 9.

The counterbalancing means for the lamp is interposed between the outer end of the arm 76 and one of the links 78 and comprises a tubular member 84 having at its lower end an extension 85 pivotally connected at 86 with an upstanding lug 87 on the upper link 78 as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. Slidably mounted within the outer end of the tube 84 is a tubular member 88 into which is threaded a connection 89 which is pivoted at 90 upon a collar 91 fixed on the arm 76 by means of ascrew 92. Mounted within the .lamp thereon at the different positions to which they may be adjusted in a vertical direction .about the horizontal axis of the links 78. It will be understood that the difierence in torque of the lamp supporting arm in the different positions to which it is adjusted in. a vertical. direction is compensated for by the spring means when the latter is properly tensioned. In other words, upon lowering the arm from the position shown in Fig. 1 the force exerted by the weight of the lamp is increased by reason of the increase of the leverage of the arm in moving toward a horizontal position. As the arm is moved downwardly the increase in the tension of the spring will correspond substantially to the increase in the torque of the arm thus causing the parts to be balanced at the difierent positions to which they may be adjusted. y

In the operation of the lamp the switch thereon may be moved to afford either a bright or a. relatively dim light as the nature of the work may require regardless of whether or not use is to be made of the film or data sheet holder, which is provided for use at such times as it may be advantageous or. desirable to employ the same.

Furthermore the visor may be easily rotated upon the front of the lamp around the axis thereof to adjust it to eye shielding position regardless of the angular position 'of the lamp with respect to the patient, which will necessarily vary'from time to time under different operating conditions. Adjustment of the eye shield to move the data sheet thereon into position to be illuminated by the lamp, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 6

is effected by swinging it upon its pivot outwardly in' a direction 'away from the axis of the lamp, it being swung toward said axis} when returning it to normal eye shielding" position. I

Furthermore, if the dentistis required to shift from one side of the patient to another, the position of the visor can be correspondingly changed merely by rotating it about the axis of the lamp. Onthe other hand, if at times it is desired to utilize all of the lamp rays, the visor canreadily be moved to an out of the way position at one side of'the lamp casing merely by swinging it outwardly upon its pivot.

Theadvantage of providing for universal movement of the counterbalancing means will be apparent and the same is true with respect to the mounting of the lamp for universal movement upon the counterbalancing mechanism since with these diflerent adjustments the lamp may be quickly moved to whatever position it may be desired to operate the same. The handle on the lamp greatly facilitates adjustment of the same to the desired position and makes it unnecessary for the operator to place the hand upon the lamp casing, thereby avoiding any discomfort which might be occasioned by touching the latter which may become heated to a slight degree when in use. The placing of the switch directly on the lamp casing renders it extremely convenient to the operator, who does not have toshift his position when turning on or oif the light or when dimming the same.

The circulation of air throughout the length of the lamp casing in contact with the inner and outer walls thereof and around the socket and the resistance serves to rapidly cool the parts,

' thus preventing them from becoming heated to any appreciable degree. I

The lamp is'of a compact and unitary design embodying a single housing element within which is mounted the light transmitting and reflecting means, the lamp and lamp socket, and the switch, together with the resistance, all of which parts iare detaohably secured within the housing for removal through the open end thereof. The

- several parts enumerated can be easily assembled in proper position and the eye shield readily applied to the housing and removed therefrom.

This arrangement eflects asaving in the cost of' 1 ing through the lens.

2. In an operating lamp, a lamp casing, a light projecting lens supported by the casing, a member rotatable upon the casing around the axis of the projectedbeam, and a holder on said 'member spaced from and in advance of'the casingadapted to'support a data sheet in .position to directly intercept light rays passing through the lens, the'data sheet upon rotation of said member-being adapted to occupy different positions directlydn front of the lens.

3. In an operating lamp, a lamp casing, a lens supported by the casing for projecting light rays in advance thereof, a member rotatable upon the casing around the axis of the projected beam,

the sheet to differentangular positions with re-- spect to the lens.

4. In an operating lamp; a lamp casing, a lens supported by the casing for projecting light rays in advance thereof, a device mounted to swing upon thecasing to diiferent angular positions with respect to the lens, and a holder for a data sheet secured on said device adapted in one position thereof to supportthe sheet in position to be illuminated by the light, rays passing through the lens. a

5. In an operating lamp, a lamp casing, a light projecting lens supported by the casing, an element associated with the lens for modifying the color of the light projected thereby, a member rotatable upon the casing around the axis of the lens, and a data sheet holder movable on said member to different angular positions with respect to the lens, in one of which positions the sheet is adapted'to be illuminated by light rays passing through the lens.

6. In an operating lamp, a lamp casing having an annular guideway formed interiorly of its front end, alight projecting lens within the easing, a member rotatably supported within said guideway and having a part extending in ad-= vance of the lens, and an eye shield extending in advance of and mounted for adjustment upon said part to diiferentangular positions relative to the lens, said eye shield having a body portion provided with-angulanly disposed wings extend= ing inwardly of the front end of the casing in one position of the eye shield.

'7. In an operating lamp, a lamp casing having an .annular guideway formed interiorly oi its 'front end, .a light projecting lens within the casing, a member rotatably supported within said guideway, an eye shield hinged upon said member to swing to different angular positions with respect to the lens, and a data sheet holder will on the eye shield adapted to support the sheet in angular relationship with respect to the eye shield and in position to be illuminated by the light rays passing through the lens.

8. In an operating lamp, a lamp casing, a re-= flector within the casing, a lamp within the easing extending within the reflector, a lens within the casing in advance of the reflector, an eye shield connected with the casing for a swinging movement toward and from the axis of the lens, and a holder on the eye shield adapted to support a data sheet in depending relation with re- 1% casing terminating short of the guideway, a light projecting lens mounted on the reflector independently of the casing and spaced in rear of the guideway, a lamp socket within the casing adapted to support a lamp. within the reflector, a split.

ring disposed rearwardly of the front end of the casing and rotatably seated in said guideway in spaced relation to the reflector and the lens and free to rotate within the guideway, and an eye shield in advance of the'casing and pivotally connected with the ring for rotation around the axis of the projected beam and'adapted to swing upon the ring toward and away from-saidaxis.

AIPHONSEF. PIEPER... 

